Marketplace Christian Resources: The Problem With Generic Spirituality

Marketplace Christian Resources: The Problem With Generic Spirituality: Have you ever heard someone say, ”I’m not religious but I am a spiritual person?” I had a co-worker tell me this a long time ago ...

The Problem With Generic Spirituality

Have you ever heard someone say, ”I’m not religious but I am a spiritual person?” I had a co-worker tell me this a long time ago and Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame said something to this effect when asked about her role in the “Noah” movie. What is it? Is it valid? Where will it lead? I hope to answer these questions here for you.
Generic spirituality is when a person does not believe in a traditional religious practice but picks and chooses from a verity of beliefs to form their own brand of spirituality. In short,they take what they like and do away with the rest. This is nothing new, people have been doing it for a very long time. It is how many cults get established.

One problem with this belief system is that it has no foundation. There is no foundation of truth. Just as our physical world has natural laws, so do our spiritual world. A man that I greatly admire is Mahatma Gandhi. But one thing he stated that I totally disagree with is that he proclaimed to be Hindu, Muslim and Christian. This can not be. Each one contradicts the other. Only one can be true. I will not go into the beliefs of each at these at this time but will try to give you a real foundation that generic spirituality does not offer.

1 Cor. 3:11 states,” For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” and
2 Tim. 2:19, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are His’, and,’Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’”
And bear with me one more Scripture, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” , Eph. 2:20
Now how can any of the others compare to a God that wishes to indwell His people. No other even offers such a life. Can you see that there is no generic belief that can stand, only the one that gives us seal.
Jesus stated Himself,”I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus says He is the way. He is the path to God. To the Father, which no other religion pictures their God or force as a Father. Generic Spirituality takes a person nowhere. I’ve heard it said that even reincarnation is like being on a hamster's wheel. You go around and around but go nowhere. Mohammad said that even he did not know if he would make it to heaven. If Islam’s prophet doesn’t even have assurance that he will make it, who will? But the followers of Christ are given assurance and more.
It is said that all religions and belief systems has some truth to them. Even atheism has a little. That is a true statement, but only Jesus contains all the truth of the ages. He is the personification of truth.
And last, people who choose to believe that God is a force that holds everything together but is impersonal.

Jesus said that He was the life, the all that matters. He created life and keeps life together and gives life. The Greek word for “Life” John 14:6 is the word Zoe. Meaning both the physical and spiritual life. I’ve heard it called the God Life”. Jesus said in John 6:63,” It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The Words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” ; John 10:28,”And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” and the most famous of the sayings of Jesus, John 10:10,” The thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and they may have it more abundantly.

I hope I have answered the questions for you and have shown you that a belief system that lets you play God in choosing your own truth is a trap set by the “thief”. He wishes to let you think that you are clever enough to choose your own way while setting you on his way to destruction. Take into consideration what I have told you and choose to the path to life. 

Wayne Brooks
12/6/2019